Point Loma  The debate over La Jolla’s seal colony has shifted from the courtroom to the City Council chambers, but the big question remains the same: What’s the right balance between people and marine mammals on a fingernail of sand near Coast Boulevard?

The council’s natural resources committee will take up the issue for the second time in three weeks during a special meeting April 5. It’s unclear whether any plan has enough momentum to end the standoff between those want more protection for the seals and those seeking more clearly defined rights for people.

“We are not obligated to do anything at this point in time,” said Councilwoman Sherri Lightner, whose district includes the beach.

San Diego officials have debated how to manage the site since at least 1999, when the council reached a 4-4 stalemate on a proposal to dredge the beach so bacterial contamination from seal feces could be reduced.

About 200 harbor seals use the beach at any one time, including about 40 that have been born there since December. The animals are a major tourist attraction, but they also make it difficult for sunbathers and swimmers to use the area.

The colony became the subject of court battles for most of the past five years. Then the state Legislature gave San Diego the authority to let the animals live at the beach as of Jan. 1, effectively rendering the legal cases moot.

On March 17, the resources committee deadlocked over a management plan. Options included making it illegal for people to enter Children’s Pool during pupping season, keeping a rope barrier up year-round and creating a marine mammal park at the site.

Those proposals floundered, partly because Lightner and Councilman Carl DeMaio wanted legal analysis before making commitments. The City Attorney’s Office said it will have its report ready by April 5.

On Thursday, Lightner issued a memo recommending that the resources committee take no action for 90 days so she can study her proposal, which includes seeking donations for a park ranger or lifeguard whose primary job would be patrolling Children’s Pool and enforcing existing rules.

“Right now, my vision is to not have any more litigation and to have everybody get along,” Lightner said. “I think if we develop a consensus, it’s going to be a lot easier on everyone.”

Councilwoman Donna Frye, head of the resources committee, also wants clarity — but quickly.

She said the city needs to spell out what’s legal and then communicate that to visitors at the cove. She also wants greater safeguards for seals during the pupping season, which runs from December to May.

“Guidelines have to be set,” Frye said. “Everybody is sort of in limbo right now.”

It’s questionable whether the competing camps can craft a compromise. For starters, they can’t agree on what to name the site.

Those who want swimmers and divers to have ample access call it Children’s Pool, a reference to its formation in 1931 as a place where kids could learn to swim. Supporters of a seal-first philosophy often call it Casa Beach, which doesn’t imply human superiority.

The main option besides creating a seal sanctuary is joint use, which is the current policy. It means that people can use the beach but aren’t supposed to harass the seals. There are various ideas about how to make that arrangement succeed with fewer conflicts.

The San Diego Council of Divers said city leaders should craft a plan with input from scientists, wildlife experts, the La Jolla Community Planning Association and others. Some changes could require approval by regulatory agencies, including the California Coastal Commission.

San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders backs the status quo.

“The current council policy of joint use is working well; the seals are protected, and citizens retain access to the water. So he is not pushing for a change,” said Rachel Laing, a spokeswoman for the mayor.

But visitors can find the current situation confusing. For instance, some city signs say public access to the beach is allowed at all times, while others request that beachgoers watch from a distance to avoid disturbing the seals.

“The city needs to make a declaration about what is the preferred use of this beach because right now, it’s not clear,” said Bryan Pease, a pro-seal attorney. “It’s just a small beach where it’s not compatible to have humans and seals interacting.”

He’s confident that backers of the proposal for designating a marine mammal park have at least five votes on the full council. His biggest concern is getting the measure past the resources committee, where Lightner said the current situation is fine in the short run.

“People problems have gone down significantly since Jan. 1,” Lightner said. “Let’s see how it goes and take our time.”